Star teams up with hotels

Mohammad Hemayet Uddin Talukder, fourth from right, chairman of Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation, poses with Mahfuz Anam, editor and publisher of The Daily Star; Azeem Shah, general manager of The Westin Dhaka; Eldridge J Mac Ewan, general manager of Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel; Shahidus Sadeque, marketing and communications manager of Ruposhi Bangla Hotel, and Shahid Hamid, executive director of Dhaka Regency, and other officials at The Daily Star office in Dhaka yesterday, after the newspaper signed partnership deals with the four hotels. Photo: STAR

The Daily Star, the most-read English newspaper in Bangladesh, yesterday signed separate partnership deals with four renowned hotels to work together for the hospitality and tourism sector.
The newspaper, with a focus on the country's private sector in its business news coverage, joined hands with The Westin Dhaka, Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel, Ruposhi Bangla Hotel and Dhaka Regency Hotel & Resort.
The deals make The Daily Star an exclusive preferred newspaper in these hotels. The newspaper will cover not only the policy issues tied to the hospitality sector but also the initiatives taken by the hotels.
The Daily Star Editor and Publisher Mahfuz Anam signed the contracts with the hotels.
General Manager of The Westin Dhaka Azeem Shah, GM of Pan Pacific Sonargaon Dhaka Eldridge J Mac Ewan III, Marketing Communication Manager of Ruposhi Bangla Hotel Shahidus Sadeque and Executive Director of Dhaka Regency Hotel & Resort Shahid Hamid signed the contracts on behalf of their hotels.
The agreements, known as “The Daily Star Partner Hotels”, will give the newspaper more visibility in these hotels and help it reach out to more readers, especially foreign guests.
The Daily Star's partnership with the hotels, first of its kind in Bangladesh, comes at a time when hopes for vibrant hospitality industry glitter on the back of a steady rise in foreign and local tourists.
Between 2005 and 2009, Bangladesh registered a 64 percent rise in the number of foreign tourists to 4.35 lakh, according to the tourism ministry.
Chairman of Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation Hemayet Uddin Talukder was the chief guest at the deal signing ceremony at The Daily Star office.
Anam said the agreements will also contribute to the mutual growth of the respective organisations.
''Obviously, there are interests of The Daily Star involved in it. Through the presence of The Daily Star in your hotels, we expect that your guests will be better served,'' he said.
The initial duration of the partnership will be one year.
The Daily Star will publish various initiatives of its partner hotels such as food festivals, cultural programmes or other initiatives of service excellence.
Azeem Shah of The Westin Dhaka appreciated the initiative and said not enough has been done to promote hospitality business in Bangladesh.
Eldridge J Mac Ewan III of Pan Pacific Sonargaon said tourism brings business for many sectors.
Ruposhi Bangla's Shahidus Sadeque said tourism is yet to be recognised among corporate bodies. “Time has come to recognise it.”
Shahid Hamid of Dhaka Regency Hotel & Resort said the partnership will create a win-win situation.